For almost 300 years Signal Hill has dominated the skyline above St. John's, Newfoundland and today stands as Canada's second-largest national historic park. But the people of St. John's call the Hill part of their "home"....a thread running through everyone's lives in wartime, epidemic, hard times and history. Customs' officials began relying on the signals to collect their levies and harbour pilots were alerted by the flags if their services were needed by approaching ships, flag signaling continued from different places and finally the top of the Cabot Tower until 1958. Signal Hill was also a place where the sick were sent to die. Victims of repeated epidemic outbreaks were isolated in the three hospitals built within the grounds.